Water-heater.



F. 1. 0. WADSWORTH.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION HLED N0V1 21,1917.

1,297,045. Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESS INVENTOR- j w, i

F. L. O. WADSWORTH.

WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. I911.

1,297,045. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESS INVENTOR.

FRANK L. O. WADSWOBTH, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Original application filed October 3, 1911, Serial No. 652,576. Divided and this application filed November 21, 1917. Serial No. 203,122. 1

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK L. O. answom'l-r, a citizen of the United States; residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in water heaters, and particularly to the automatic controlling mechanism for governing the supply of gas to the burners. The invention has for its objects the provision of an improved and simplified means for regulating the supply of gas to the burnersof a water heater, by means of a combined water pressure and thermostatic controlling mechanism, and the present application constitutes a division of my co-pending application, Serial Number 652,576, filed October 3, 1911. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively, of the ordinary modern instantaneous heater, such as that shown in the patent to Shook, No. 993,723, with my improvement applied thereto, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale through my controlling mechanism.

Referring first tothe general arrangement of the heater parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A is the casing of the heater; B and C are the upper coils of the heater; D is the lower reverse coil connected to the upper coils by means of the pipe E; F are the burners mounted upon the usual burner ring; G is the gas supply pipe; H is the casing of the gas valve for controlling the supply of gas to the burners; I is a pipe leading from the gas valve to the burner ring; and K is a casing surrounding the thermostatic controlling mechanism shown in.

Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 3 in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the cold Water inlet to machining and'as'sembling of the parts.

the upper coil B of the heater, 2 is the con nection leading from the lower coil of the heater, 3 is a piston or valve actuated member mounted in the cylinder 4, 5 is the head of the cylinder 4;, 6 is the cold water supply pipe from the main, 7 is a pipe connecting the pipe 6 with the inlet pipe 1 at the top of the heater and provided with the spring held check valve 8, and 9 is the thermostat casing having the outlet 10 which constitutes the hot water supply pipe- The path of the water from the time it enters the pipe 6 until it'leaves the pipe 10 is as follows: pipes 7 and 1, coils B and C, pipe E, coil D, pipe 2, thermostat casing 9, and outlet 10.

The water valve casing Al is provided with a pair of ports 11 and 12 located on opposite sides of the piston 3. The port 12 communicates with the thermostat casing 9 by means of the pipe 13 which is provided with a throttling valve '29. The thermostat consists of the usual porcelain rod 14 and expansible metal tube 15 with which the porcelain rod is in contact at its upper end. This thermostat operates a pair of levers l6" and 17, as indicated in the drawing, which are so arranged that on the heating of the water in the thermostat casing and the exp'ansion of the member 15, the lower end of the lever 17 is caused to move to the left .under the influence of the spring 18.

The gas supply to the heater through the pipes G and I passes through the gas valve casing H and past the valve 19', such valve being normally held closed by means of the spring 20/ p The piston member 3 is provided with a spider or saddle comprising a transverse bar .21 rigidly held in position by means of the studs 22; and this bar 21 iii turn carries a rod or stem 23 arranged in axial alinement with the stem 24 of the gas valve. Surrounding the stem 23 is a sleeve 25 carrying at each end valve heads designated by the reference numerals 26 and 27. These valve heads 26 and 27 are adapted to' seat against the opposite ends of a second sleeve member 28, which is-provided with ports 30, 30 and 31, the latter lying in alinement with the port 12. The member 28 when once placed in the positionshown in the drawing, is designed. to remain immovable in such position during the operation of the apparatus, and. is made separate from the casing 4 primarily in orderIto permit of the ready Thesleeve 25 and the piston 3 are normally held in the relative position shown in the stem 23 and carries at its front end a disk 34 adaptedto be engag'edby the therniostat arm 17 when the temperature of the water in the heater rises above a predeterinincd point. The spring 35 acting in con junction with the spring 32 serves to move the sleeve and stem 33 to the right when the lever 17 is moved in that direction by a tall in temperature in the water.

When the Water in the heater is quiescentand comparatively cold, the parts are in the position of Fig. 3 and the pressure is the same on both sides of the piston. ll/hen an outlet in the house service pipe 10 is opened the Water flows into the heater through the pipes 6, *4" and l, and out of it through the connection 2 and the thermostat chamber 9, This flow sets up a differential pressure on opposite sides of the piston 3 by reason of the resistance to the ilovv oi the liquid through tne thermostat casing 9, connecting passages and coils between the inlet pipe 6 and the outlet pipe 10. This difference is accentuated by the use of the iiovv resisting valve 8, The pressures in-the pipe 6 and the thermostat casing 9 are communicated to the opposite sides of the piston'by the Way of the pipe 6, passage 36 and the port ii on the one hand, and through the passages 13, valve 529, and ports 12, 31 30 on the other hand; and Water 'l'lGWS out from the chamber in front of the piston, through the latter connections, into the heating system. lhis action causes the piston 3 to move to the right against the tension oi the spring 32, and opens the valve 19, thus permitting a fiovv of gas to the burners.

i during the outflow or Water from the heater, the temperature or the Water rises above a predetermined. point, the tube 15 expands and the thermostat arm 1?, acting under the-influence of the spring; 18, moves to thelett and communicates a corresponding; movement to the sleeve 38, t iereby seating the head 27 and unseating the head 26. When the head 26 is unseated, Water flows directly from the left-hand piston chamber into the right-hand piston chamber through the opened valve head 26 and the large ports 30, thus quickly and symmetrically equalizing; the pressure on the two sides of the Water actuated member 3 and the latter will then be promptly returned to its orig'u nal position by the tension of the spring 32, thus moving the stem E3 to the left and permitting the gas valve 19 to close. This condition is maintained until the temperature oi? the wawr drops suiliciently to move the lever l? to the. right and again seat the head 26, whereupon the pressure in the two sides of the *Q'lSl GH is again unbalanced by the outilovv or Water through the small ports 12 and restricted passageways in the throttling valve 29; and the piston 3 moves to the right and again opens the gas valve.

lo. the action last described the seating and unseating valve 27 plays only a secondahy part. The chief "function of this valve is to cut oil any flow of water the piston chambers into the thermochainoer the time the gas valve is close it may be dispensed with entirely Without affecting the operation of the mechanism in eti ecting the control of the fuel su oply to the rise and tall oi the temperature of the flowing Water. The reason for this is that the direct passageway through the Water actuated member 3 past the valve head 26 through the hollovv sleeve 28 and the ports 30, 80-is so much shorter and larger than the long and restricted passage past valve head 27 through the port 12, the pipe 13 and the throttling valve 29, that the immediate and symmetrical balancing of the fluid pressure on the tWo sides oi the piston, when the valve head 26 is unseated, is not ensibly retarded or interfered with by the entire omission of the valve 27, or by such longitudinal adjustment of the said valve heads on their sleeve, which is permitted hy the threaded connection between head 26 and the sleeve 28, as will permit the valve head 27 to remain unseated at all l't will also he apparent that while the cliecl vs 8 serves to increase the difierence in pressure upon the inlet and outlet sides of the piston, when the outlet from the heater is open, this check valve may also he dispensed with, as the friction of the passing; through the heater will alvva s :orovide a su hcient dii'ierence in resi l sure hetvreen the inlet 6 and thermostat casing 9 to secure an operation or the piston.

if the piston is inade of sufficient diameter or it thepressure in the Water supply plpe i "ot reduced very much belovv its usual level.

t will also be understood by those skilled in the art, that l may set up th operating diiierence in pressure on the two sides of the Water actuated piston or diaphragm member in any other the Ways known to those skilled in the ant, and that the neceseary dii'i crence in vvaterpressure potential may be secured by connections to separated points in the system diiiierent from the points illustrated. @ther advantages in mechanical detail, not illustrated, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; the primary features of invention bemg the provision oi a short direct passage What I claim is:

1. In combination in a water heater, a conduit for water, a burner for heating the water passing through the conduit, a gas valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner. a cylinder, a piston mounted for movement in the cylinder, yielding means normally holding the piston in one position, means whereby the opening of the outlet from the heater unbalances the pressure on opposite sides of the piston causing'it to move from said position and open the gas valve, a. passage through the piston, a yieldingly closed valve for the passage, and thermostatic means controlling said last valve adapted to open such valve and permit of equalization of pressure on the two sides of the piston when the heater water rises above a predetermined temperature.

2. In combination in a water heater, a conduit for water, a burner for heating the Water passing through the conduit, a'gas valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner, a cylinder, a movable member dividing the cylinder into two chambers and yieldinglfv',held in one position, a sleeve in said member, means whereby the opening of the outlet from the heater causes a change of relative pressures in the two chambers and a movement of the said member from said position, a connecting means whereby the said movement of said member opens the gas valve, a passage through said member connecting said chambers and through which said connecting means extends, a valve for said passage yieldingly held on said sleeve, and thermostatic means controlling said last valve adapted to open such valve and permit of equalization of pressure on the two sides of said member when the heater Water rises above a predetermined temperature.

3. In combination in a water heater, a conduit for water, a burner for heating the water passing through the conduit, a gas valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner, a cylinder, a movable member dividing the cylinder into two chambers and yieldingly held in one position, means where by the openingof the ,outlet from the heater causes a change of relative pressures in the two chambers and a movement of thesaid member from said position, connecting means whereby the said movement of said member opens the gas valve, a sleeve extending through the piston and having a. passage permitting communication between said chambers, a yieldingly closed valve controlling said passage, and thermostatic burner, a cylinder, a movable member dividing the cylinder into two chambers and yieldingly held in one position, means whereby the opening of the outlet from theheater causes a change of relative pressures in the two chambers and a movement of the said member from said position, connecting means whereby the said movement of said member opens the: gas valve, a sleeve extending through the piston and held against movement in the cylinder and providing a passage between said chambers, a valve seated upon the end of said sleeve and closing the passage therethrough, means for yieldingly holding the valve closed, and thermostatic means adapted to open said last valve and permit equalization of the pressure in the two chambers when the temperature of the heater water rises above a predetermined point.

5. In combination in a water heater, a conduit for water, a burner for heating the water passing through the conduit, a gas valve controlling the flow of water to the burner, a cylinder, a movable member dividing the cylinder into two chambers, and

yieldingly held in one position, a fixed division member in one chamber, an inlet to one of the chambers, an outlet from the other chamber in advance of said division member leading to a portion of the heater having a pressure less than that in the said inlet when the outlet from the heater is open, connecting means whereby the movement of said movable member opens the gas valve, a sleeve extending through the piston and the said division chamber and held against movement in the cylinder, :1 pair of valves for closing the ends of said sleeve. said valves being connected and arranged so that when one valve is open the other is closed, a passage leading through the sleeve to the space between said movable member and the division member, means for yieldingly holding the valve on the inlet end of the sleeve closed, and thermostatic means adapted to open said last valve and close the valve at the other end of the sleeve when the temperature of the heater water rises above a predetermined point.

6. In a water heater, the combination with a conduit for water and a gas valve, of a chamber connected with said conduit to receive Water therefrom, a movable member positioned in said chamber and provided with an opening, a valve carrying member and a controlling element for the gas valve located in said opening, said member movable to operate said gas valvecontrolling element upon admission of water into a part of saidichamber from the Water conduit, a valve on said member for said opening, and thermostatic means for unseating the last mentioned valve and thereby permit the flow of water to the other part of said chamber.

aft

in a Water heater, the combination "with a conduit for water and a gas valve, of a chamber adapted to receive water from said conduit, a piston positioned therein to divide the chamber into tvvo parts, a lined member provided with a passage connecting the two parts of said chamber, a controlling element for said gas valve movable with the piston upon admission of Water into said chamber "whereby to operate said gas valve, a valve and a valve carrying member in said passage, a spring intermediate the latter member and the piston and thermostatic means for actuating said last mentioned valve.

8. in a Water heater, the combination of gas valve, a chamber, a piston positioned therein to divide the chamber into two parts and having a controlling element "for said gas valve, a Water conduit adapted to communicate with one part of said chamber, a member provided with passage connecting the parts of said chamber, said piston movable relatively of said member to operate said element, a valve normally closing said passage, and thermostatic means for opening said last mentioned valve and therebv substantially equalizing the pressures in the parts of said chamber.

9. in a Water heater, the combination of a gas valve, a chamber provided With an inlet and an outlet, a piston positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet and provided with a controlling device for said gas valve,

a member in said chamber provided with a passage connecting said inlet and outlet, valve closing said passage, a valve arrying member disposed in said passage and extending outwardly of said chamber, a Water conduit adapted to admit Water pressure through said inlet and thereby impart movement to said piston relatively of said memher to operate said controlling element, and automatic means for actuating said last mentioned valve to open said passage Whereby to relieve the Water pressure on "the inlet side of the chamber.

10. in a Water heater, the combination with a Water supply conduit, a hot Water conduit having athermostat therein, and a gas valve, 0:? a chamber having an inlet connected with the Water supply conduit and an outlet leading to the hot Water conduit, a piston having a controlling element for the gas valve and positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet. for movement in one direction to operate said element when water is admitted into the chamber through the inlet, a passage connecting the inlet and outlet, a valve for said passage operatively associated with the thermostat and positioned for opening movement in a direction opposed to such piston movement.

11. In a vvater heater, the combination with a water supply conduit, a hot Water conduit having a thermostat therein, and a gas valve, of a chamber having an inlet connected with the Water supply conduit and an outlet leading to the hot Water conduit, a piston having a controlling element for the gas valve and positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet for movement in one direction to operate said element when Water is admitted into the chamber through the inlet, a passage connecting the inlet and outlet, valve for said passage operatively associated with the thermostat and positioned for opening movement in a direction opposed to such piston movement, both of said valves disposed axially in alinement one with the other.

. 12. in a Water heater, the combination with a Water supply conduit, :1 hot water conduit having a thermostat therein, and a gas valve, of a chamber having an inlet connected with the Water supply conduit and an outlet leading to the hot Water conduit, a piston having a controlling element for the gas valve and positioned intermediate said inlet and outlet for movement in one direction to operate said element when Water is admitted into the chamber through the inlet, a passage connecting the inlet and outlet, and a spring held valve normally closing said passage, said valve operatively associated With the thermostat and positioned for opening movement in a direction opposed to such piston movement.

FRANK L. l). WAL DSW'H. 

